Escape apparatus



June 20, 1933. LUGARA 1,914,889

ESCAPE APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1932 INVENTOR /M4JJZ )MWMI ATTOR Ypanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a Patented June 20, 1933 UNITEDSTATES isiassa) DOMENICO LUGARA, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY ESCAPE APPARATUSApplication filed June 23,

This invention relates to a safety device for lowering persons and alsoa device whereby persons may lower themselves from the windows ofbuildings. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use as a fireescape.

The advantages of the construction are quick availability when needed,quick adj ustment to the person to be lowered, simplicity ofconstruction, compactness when not in use, adaptability for use bypersons on the ground who may aid the one to be rescued and also for useby the one to be lowered without any aid, and economy in cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accomview showing the apparatusready for use. Figure 2 is a section of the apparatus stowed in areceptacle. Figure 3 is a top view of the receptacle shown in Figure 2.Figure 4 is a detail view showing the life belt and foot support on anenlarged scale. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing how the belt andsupport are used. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sling used tocarry children by one who is descending by means of the apparatus.

The rope used as a lowering medium is preferably placed in a receptaclesituated in the ceiling of a room above a window. In Figure 1, 10 is thewall of a building, 11 the floor of a room and 12 the ceiling of theroom. In the ceiling is placed areceptacle 13 which is storage place forthe rope and its accessories when not in use.

The receptacle 13 is provided with a suitable opening in the bottomwhich is closed by a lid 14. The opening is situated to provide aninconspicuous feature in the room but is large enough to allow the freepassage of the rope and other articles stored on the bottom of thereceptacle. Near the top of the receptacle and over the opening is apulley 15. This pulley revolves freely and is mounted on a bar 16 whichalso acts as a brace for the sides of the receptacle. A second bar 17 isinstalled below the pulley and has a loop 18 which acts as a stop forone end of the rope 19. The rope 19 has an enlarged end such as a knot20 and a washer 21 which is 1932. Serial No. 618,895.

provided with a small chain or cord 22 normally coiled and resting onthe lid 14.

The rope 19 is coiled in the receptacle and its end is looped as at 23,the rope passing through the loop to form a noose 24. The noose passesaround a belt 25 which is preferably made of canvas and has strips 26under which the rope passes. This construc tion requires no fastening onthe belt and is adapted for quick attachment around the waist of aperson by passing it over the head and drawing it taut around the waist.The coiled rope is installed to cause the belt 25 to incline toward theopening in the bottom of the receptacle so that the belt comes outendwise and the rope emerges easily and descends as needed.

The lid 14 is provided with a pull chain 27 which is placed within reachof a person of ordinary height or it can edge of a window frame or alocation where it will be out of the way and at the same timeaccessible.

In order to provide a means for pulling the belt down from thereceptacle I provide a chain or the like which can also be used as afoot rest. The form shown comprises a chain 28 provided with a fasteningsuch as a snap hook 29 which is hooxed over the noose 24 near the frontof the belt 25. The chain 28 has a stirrup 30 at the bottom; I usuallymake this rigid and I illustrate one made of iron pipe 31 through whichthe chain is looped. The pipe may have cover 32 of rubber or the-like.The manner ofuse of these articles is clearly shown in Figure 5.

When the device is to be used the person operating the apparatus pullson the chain 27 which releases the lid 14'and both the pull chain 22 andthe chain 28 of the foot rest which rested on the lid. The chain 28 ispulled which causes the belt 25 and the rope 19 to drop into the room. Asturdy person can use the rope to descend on it hand over hand as theend 20 is This method makes no use of the belt 25.

An alternative and more probable use by timid persons or when at aconsiderable height is to draw down on the pull chain or cord 22 anddraw the rope over the pulley 15 be looped over the .70

held in the loop 18.

and drop it out of the window as shown in Figure 1. The person then putsthe belt on and may also use the foot rest 30. By using the reach a ofthe rope by hand over hand descent as in Figure 5 the person can lowerhimself or herself without much effort as the rope is passed at the topover the pulley 15. Persons on the ground can lower the one in the beltby means of the rope, as will be evident.

If desired the sling 33 can be used to carry children in descendingwithout interfering with the use of the hands. The sling has a centralhole 34 which enables the sling to be passed over the head. The frontand rear aprons have pockets 35 with leg openings 36 in which pocketschildren can be seated and easily supported by one descending on therope.

Various changes can be made in the form and proportions of the partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim 1. An escape apparatus comprising a receptacle having a pulleymounted therein, a rope coiled in the receptacle and with one end overthe pulley, means for holding said end against movement toward thepulley, a lid closing the bottom of the receptacle, and pull chainsresting on the lid and providing means for selectively drawing the endsof the rope when the lid is opened.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, in which one of'said pullchains is secured at one end to the rope and has means at the other endforming a foot support.

3. An escape apparatus comprising a receptacle, a rope in thereceptacle, a pulley in the receptacle over which the rope is passed, alid in the bottom of the receptacle, pull chains resting on the lid andattached to the rope, and means in the receptacle for limiting themovement of the rope in one direction.

4. The combination of a storage receptacle having a lid in the bottom, apulley in the receptacle, a rope in the receptacle and resting on thepulley, means for limiting one end of the rope in its movement towardthe pulley, and a pull chain secured to the rope andnormally resting onthe lid.

5. The combination of a storage receptacle having a lid in the bottom,apulley in the receptacle, a rope in the receptacle and resting on thepulley, means for limiting one end of the rope in its movement towardthe pulley, a belt, the other end ofthe rope being formed into a nooseand secured to the belt.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signav ture.

DOMENICO LUGARA.-

